Orchid dottyback behavioral change

[Tedd97]

I have 1 black ice clown, 1 orchid dottyback, 1 skunk shrim, 7 hermits in my 65 gal. tank. They have all been in there a year. I did about a 40% water change 3 days ago. Today water parameters were great. However, the dotty back isn’t eating much hardly coming out of its hiding hole and it’s staying to the bottom of the aquarium. While everyone else is acting fine and normal. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have 1 black ice clown, 1 orchid dottyback, 1 skunk shrim, 7 hermits in my 65 gal. tank. They have all been in there a year. I did about a 40% water change 3 days ago. Today water parameters were great. However, the dotty back isn’t eating much hardly coming out of its hiding hole and it’s staying to the bottom of the aquarium. While everyone else is acting fine and normal. Any ideas or suggestions?

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

We need some additional background information. Can you post your current water quality parameters? Also, can you post a video of the dottyback?

Jay

 

[Tedd97]

Temp.- 75.1
PH-8.3
Ammonia-0.25ppm (tested water before the container 0, tested water in container 0 tested water after mixing salt 0.25ppm)
Nitrite-0ppm
Nitrate-15ppm
Gravity-1.024
The dottyback comes out every once in a while does a lap and goes back and eating much

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Well, nothing pops up for me there. Not feeding is such a generalized symptom - most fish stop feeding when they have any health issue, so it isn't specific for any one disease.

What foods are you feeding it?
Does the dottyback have any swelling in its belly? (I couldn't see from the picture).
Any chance the clown is being a jerk and keeping it in hiding? (Unlikely)

Jay

 

[Tedd97]

I am feeding Omego One marine flakes, Omega One small pellets, Omega one brine shrimp (freeze dried), and Omega one shrimp pellets. The clownfish isn’t bothering the dottyback, and I didn’t see any swelling. Could it be stress? The girlfriend brought the 3 kids over and they like to run around the house and are loud. My clown is starting to show signs of being stressed every now and again but the dottyback is being different than usual.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I am feeding Omego One marine flakes, Omega One small pellets, Omega one brine shrimp (freeze dried), and Omega one shrimp pellets. The clownfish isn’t bothering the dottyback, and I didn’t see any swelling. Could it be stress? The girlfriend brought the 3 kids over and they like to run around the house and are loud. My clown is starting to show signs of being stressed every now and again but the dottyback is being different than usual.

Stress from the kiddos ought to go away in an hour or so after they leave (at least that works for my grandkids!).

At this point, I think you should try a non-prepared food, something frozen. Small mysid shrimp or even frozen brine shrimp. Just to see if you can get a good feeding response.

Jay

 

[Double monti 61]

Try some pemysis shrimp my orchid dottyback loved them as do the fish and invertebrates in my current system.

 

[Tedd97]

Stress from the kiddos ought to go away in an hour or so after they leave (at least that works for my grandkids!).

At this point, I think you should try a non-prepared food, something frozen. Small mysid shrimp or even frozen brine shrimp. Just to see if you can get a good feeding response.

Jay

Should I go a head and put the dottyback in a separate tank or leave in the tank it’s already in

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Should I go a head and put the dottyback in a separate tank or leave in the tank it’s already in

There is stress associated with moving the fish as well. If you do decide to move it, I would suggest giving it a 5 minute FW dip since you'll have the fish out of the tank any way. This can help screen for flukes.

Jay